Conservation Strategy for Hedgehogs in the United Kingdom

This conservation strategy for hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in the UK lists actions and objectives for the next ten years to tackle issues facing rural and urban hedgehogs.

It is based on the existing research, provides a summary of the threats facing hedgehogs and highlights areas where further research is needed.

This conservation strategy for hedgehogs is a working document, designed to encourage collaboration and improve the efficiency of conservation action, as organisations increasingly appreciate the need to take action for hedgehogs, and the opportunities they present for engagement.

Why do we need a conservation strategy for hedgehogs?

The hedgehog is widely recognised as the UK’s most popular wild animal. The population now appears to be in dramatic decline, with at least a quarter of the population lost in the last decade. We know that the presence of hedgehogs indicates that the local environment is unfragmented, varied and rich in invertebrates. A lack of hedgehogs in otherwise suitable habitat indicates that all is not well in the environment. Hedgehogs are unusual in that they can cope in environments that are heavily modified by people; they are also a unique and cherished part of our cultural heritage. To lose them would be a devastating indictment of our inability to live sustainably.